KEIR Starmer is set to travel to Scotland on Sunday to discuss ways of improving the working relationship with the Scottish government.
The new Prime Minister confirmed Scotland would be the first stop in a tour of the UK nations as he plans to meet with First Minister John Swinney.
The Labour leader will also visit Northern Ireland and Wales before returning to England.
Starmer said the reason why he’s making the trip is to discuss the challenges ahead and to establish a way of working across the United Kingdom while recognising the contributions of all four nations.
Speaking outside Downing Street after the first meeting of his new cabinet he said: “For the first time in 20 plus years, we have a majority in England, in Scotland and in Wales and that is a clear mandate to govern for all four corners of the United Kingdom.
“Therefore I will set off tomorrow to be in all four nations. I shall go first to Scotland, then to Northern Ireland, then to Wales and then back to England where I will meet the first ministers.
“Not just to discuss the issues and challenges of the day, of course we will do that, but also to establish a way of working across the United Kingdom that will be different and better to the way we’ve had in recent years and to recognise the contributions of all four nations.”
The two leaders had already spoken on the phone on Friday evening where Swinney congratulated Starmer on becoming Prime Minister.
He also said he was committed to working with the new UK Government on “areas of mutual interest”.
A spokesperson for the first minister said he believed there were ways in which the two governments could work together for the "benefit of people in Scotland".
They said: “The First Minister spoke with the Prime Minister by telephone this evening and congratulated him on his appointment.
“He committed to working collaboratively and cooperatively with the UK Government on areas of mutual interest.
“The First Minister has outlined his priorities in government and believes there are many ways in which the two governments can work together to deliver progress on them for the benefit of people in Scotland.”
